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I'm going to stray from my usual "just the facts, ma'am" style of article
this month because I'm going to save all the news for my January 2003
article, therefore it will be crammed full of good and useful information.
When did the creativity die in the toy industry? I'm serious. When I go
back and look at the toys that were offered some 20 years ago; toy
companies were always trying to come out with something new and
different. Nineteen eighty-two was the first year that GI Joe was out on the market
and it was a huge success. Looking ten years after that, the big thing was
the Mighty Morphing Power Rangers (a Japanese import) and looking at
2002 Yu-Gi-Oh (another import from Japan) is going to be the hot item for
Christmas.
WHAT HAPPENED?!?!
The toy industry went from this creative juggernaut that gave us GI Joe,
MASK and Visionaries to having to look to overseas for the next big
thing. If they are not trying to bring something in from overseas, then they are
trying to revive a long dead toy line and re-create the hype that has long
since died.
I guess there's some hope out there with some toy lines. With the Lord of
the Rings toy line as well as the toy line based on the new Star Wars
movie there is at least some glimmer of hope. Granted, those are based on
a license, but at least they are based on a modern license instead of one
that has lived out its life and need to move on (like the new GI Joe and
He-Man lines).
Meanwhile, here's my Christmas recommendation for those of you that
want to get something for your kids.
Role-playing toys are always a good bet. Take for example the light
sabers from the Star Wars line. Those would be good for outdoor play and gives
kids a chance to expand their creative horizons and lets them put on a
show for the adults.
Building toys are also a good thing to get kids. Lego has been out for
lord knows how long and has lots of lines for kids to build and play. They
have Harry Potter and Star Wars as well as some fantasy lines and the
Bioncle line.
That's all for now, I'll talk with you again next month.
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